Standard Chartered Appoints Michelle Swanepoel as Head of Financing and Securities Services for Middle East and Africa
Standard Chartered has announced the appointment of Michelle Swanepoel as Head of Financing and Securities Services (FSS) for the Middle East and Africa region, effective 1 July 2026.
Based in Dubai, Swanepoel will oversee the bank’s Financing and Securities Services operations across the region. She succeeds Scott Dickinson, who is set to retire on 30 June after a career spanning more than four decades in financial services.
Michelle Swanepoel joined Standard Chartered in September 2017 as Regional Head of Business Account Management for the Middle East and Africa. In May 2019, she was appointed Regional Head of Securities Services for Africa. Her responsibilities further expanded in September 2024 when she assumed the role of Head of Markets for South Africa.
Commenting on the appointment, Margaret Harwood-Jones said Swanepoel has played a key leadership role in advancing post-trade servicing across Sub-Saharan Africa, supporting capital market development, regulatory reform, investor access, and market infrastructure improvements.
Harwood-Jones added that Swanepoel’s industry expertise and leadership position her well to build on the foundation established by Dickinson and drive further growth across the region.
Scott Dickinson joined Standard Chartered in 2017 and has led the bank’s FSS franchise in the Middle East and Africa since 2019. During his tenure, the business recorded significant growth across the region, including expansion into markets such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
He also played a role in delivering the bank’s first Digital Asset Custody capability in the Dubai International Financial Centre.
